Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-29

Mcclellan and Lee had each fixed on June
26 as a day for attacking the other. Nc
Clcllan meant to storm Richmond and take it
by assault. Lee intended to attack cClellan
and raise the siege of Richmond. But Nc
Clellan was behind Lee in moving, and
the Confederates got in their attack
first. Then Mcclellan dismissed his plan Of
taking Richmond for the time, and made
preparations for secure retreat to the James,
which was now in possession OF the Federals
from its mouth nearly to the Confederate
capital.
The first battle of the seven days fighting
was that Of Mechanicsville, June 26 A
slight skirmish had taken place June 25.
Porter's corps was stationed around and to
the east of Mechanicsville. Near here was
Beaver Dam creek. with Ellison's Mill upon
it. McCall's Pennsylvanians were stationed
on the rising ground near Ellisons Mill, COM
manding the creek. To the right, left and
rear Of Mccall were Gems. Reynolds, Martin
dale, Griffin, Meade and Seymour, with their
commands. The troops were ranged half
moon shape on Beaver Dam creek. Mechan-
icsvile bridge crossed tho Chickahominy.
Stonewall jackson and his men were to be
in the rear Of Mechanicsville on the morning
Of the Goth Branch's Confederate brigade
was to cross the Chickahominy up near Rich
mond, move rapidly down the river road and
clear Meadow bridge Of its Union guard, and
then strike eastward, join Stonewall Jackson,
and make an attack OH the Federal rear east
of Mechanicsville. Meadow bridge crossed
the Chickahominy north of the one at
Mechanicsville.
As soon as Meadow bridge was cleared OF
Federals A. P Hill was to cross it rapidly,
push still further south and then take the
road to Mechanicsville. That movement
would leave the Mechanicsville bridge clear.
Longstreet and D. H. Hill were to cross 1t,
march hastily Oh and join the attacking
column. Thus McClellan's army on the north
bank of the Chickahominy would be involved
front and rear, and could be cut to pieces.
But for the first time in his life Stonewall
jackson was late. The two Hills and Long
street carried out their part of the pro-
gramme, attacking the Federal front as it
faced south on the Chickahominy. Their
work was with the Federal left, Jackson's
with the right.
A. P. Hills advance had driven the Union
pickets back to the main line at EIison's
Mill There was time enough for the Federals
to form in battle line. Hill and Longstreet
advanced in the teeth of tremendous fire Of
musketry and artillery from the heights
around Eilison's Mill. The firing came from
Gen. Seymour, who held the left The Con-
federates had hoped to turn the Union flank
and cut the left to pieces. In the midst OF
deadly fire they were hurled back, and the
movement failed, and so the battle of Me-
chanicsville ended. It had lasted from 3
o'clock in the afternoon till 8. McCalrs men
federates lost between 5000 and 1000, the
Federals about 400.
Next morning Mcclellan resolved to retreat
south and take up position on the James. He
found for certain that Jackson was in his vicin-
ity with large force, and had only been de-
tanned by some Federal skirmishers at Tolo-
potomy creek, north of Mechanicsville.
Here some military critics declare Mcclellan
made another mistake The Confederates had
left Richmond protected only by 25, 900 men
-Huger's and Magruder's divisions-on the
eth. After the Federal victory at Mechanics
vile if Mcclellan had Unexpectedly and Wig
orously attacked Richmond, he could have
cut Lees army in two. Magruder, indeed, ex-
pected it. He wrote in his report: 81 passed
the night without sleep. Had Mcclellan
massed his whole force in column, and ad-
vanced it against any point Of our line of bat
tte, as was done at Austerlitz under similar
circumstances by the greatest captain of any
age, # * the occupation of our works
about Richmond, and consequently the city,
might have been his reward"
But Mcclellan did not do it. He began to
retreat to the James.
The second battle Of the seven days fight
ing was that ut Gaines Mill, or Cold Harbor,
June 20.
Mcclellan made ready for his right wing
to cross the Chickahominy. During the night
Of the 2Gth the heavy guns and wagons were
sent across to the south bank. Porter's corps,
the Fifth was drawn up at Gaines Mills, a
position several miles south Of Mechanics
vile. This place was between Cold Harbor
and the Chickahominy.